In Memoriam – Walter Barry Cox
Walter B. Cox (1941-2020), the firm’s founding partner, was engaged in the practice of law since 1966. Over the course of his 54 year career, Walter tried and won more than an estimated 300 cases to juries in both state and federal courtrooms across the State of Arkansas, including an estimated 200 medical malpractice jury trials. Walter received numerous awards over the years, including the Outstanding Attorney of the Year award by the Arkansas Bar Association and Lawyer of the Year award (Fayetteville, Medical Malpractice Defense) from U.S. News and World Report in both 2011 and 2012. He was regularly named in Best Lawyers in America; the Arkansas Times “Best Attorneys in the State of Arkansas – Medical Malpractice Defense” and Super Lawyers. Additionally, Walter was a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and was rated “AV” by Martindale Hubbell for over 30 years.
Educational and Professional Background: Walter obtained a dual B.S. and Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas in 1966. He was admitted to practice in all Arkansas State Courts, the Eastern and Western District Courts of Arkansas, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He was a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and Washington County Bar Association. He was a past president of the Washington County Bar Association. Walter began his legal career in 1966 with the Fayetteville firm of Putman, Davis and Bassett where he made partner in 1970. The firm was later known as Davis, Cox & Wright. After 34 years of practice in that firm, Walter established the firm of Cox, Cox & Estes, PLLC.
Personal: Walter graduated from high school in Forrest City, Arkansas, in 1960. He began his undergraduate education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1960. After completing three years of undergraduate education, he enrolled in the University of Arkansas School of Law and upon graduation in 1966, received a Bachelor of Science degree as well as his Juris Doctorate degree. He was married to Judi Cox, and they had six children, John, Lance, Wes, Brian, Brook and Ashley. They also had thirteen grandchildren. Walter was an avid Razorback fan for more than fifty years and especially enjoyed Razorback football, basketball and baseball.
